J.W. North Recap
On a perfect late September evening at Orange Coast College, the 'Big Red' hosted vaunted J.W. North High School. The Huskies, 26-2 over the past two years with two CIF titles, featured a fast, talented squad led by PAC-10 bound Lester White and Quarterback Jamar Calhoun.
The Huskies drove 60-yards after receiving the opening kickoff before the Lancers stiffened and forced an errant field goal. On the Huskies next possession, the Lancers' defense, behind a sack by stalwart defensive end Mike Arakelian, forced 'North' to punt from inside their own 10. Sophomore Lorenzo Devers broke through on the ensuing punt and blocked it out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
After a tremendous 45-yard punt by Parker Flynn pinned 'North' back on their 5-yard line, the 'Big Red' defense again shut down the Huskies. The Lancers narrowly missed blocking their second punt, but forced a shank which gave them the ball at the J.W. North 35-yard line. After two holding penalties pushed OLu back to midfield, clutch receptions by Isiah Huss and Scotty Williams got the Lancers inside the Husky 25. Eventually, Parker Flynn boosted the Lancer lead to 5-0 on a 37-yard field goal.
The Lancers opened the second half with a 40-yard drive before a fumble gave J.W. North the ball on their own 42-yard line. The Huskies then put together an outstanding 58-yard touchdown drive. The two point conversion attempt failed but the Huskies had the lead for the first time with the score showing 6-5. On the ensuing possession, North's Lester White picked off a Lancer pass and returned it 40 yards for a score and a 13-5 J.W. North lead with 3:46 to go in the 3rd quarter. The 'Big Red' responded to the sudden shift in momentum and scored with an outstanding 80-yard touchdown drive which featured several outstanding runs by junior tailback Exavier Edwards, capped off by his darting 10-yard TD scamper. The two point conversion was successful thanks to a terrific grab by wide receiver Scotty Williams. The score was now knotted at 13 with ten minutes to go in the game.
On the Huskies next possession, North attempted a fake punt which was smothered by the Lancers, giving them possession on the North 22-yard line. Five plays later, quarterback Bobby Wheatley snuck it in from the 1-yard line to give the Lancers a 20-13 lead with 3:39 left to play. On their next possession, J.W. North drove to midfield before an interception by Player of the game, Jeremiah Pemasa, halted the Huskies last serious threat.
Although the Lancers were plagued with many mistakes, including ten penalties and two turnovers, there were many bright spots for the 'Big Red'. The defensive team effort, led by Mike Arakelian, Garret Gilliland, and Jeremiah Pemasa was superb in limiting the Huskies to just one offensive score. On offense, running back Exavier Edwards slashed for 146 yards on 23 carries while Parker Flynn led a strong special teams effort.
Tustin Recap
After their stunning loss to Bishop Amat, the question would be how would the Lancers respond, especially against a big, physical squad led by two great running backs, Anthony Wilkerson and Ameer Webb. The answer was with a consistent, physical, unyielding defense and an offense that managed to do just enough.
The Lancers took the lead in the second quarter on a 27-yard Parker Flynn field goal. The half ended on a Gabe Lemon interception, thwarting Tustin's only scoring threat in the first half. The second half opened with a great open field tackle by Luke Fields on the kickoff. After stopping the Tillers, the Lancers took possession on their own 38-yard line. However, the Lancers who had been plagued with 11 turnovers in their first two outings, committed their only turnover of this game, a fumble which gave the Tillers the ball at the Lancer 46-yard line. After three plays netted Tustin 6 yards, the Tiller punter kicked a perfect coffin-corner punt to the Lancer 5-yard line. The Tustin defense then stopped the Lancers, forcing a punt that again gave the Tillers the ball on the Lancer 46-yard line. One more time, the Lancer 'D' rose up and held the powerful Tillers to 2 yards on three carries, forcing a punt. The Lancers took possession at their own 25-yard line. Gabe Lemon turned a short screen into a 20-yard gain. Davonte Anderson had the other key play on the 75-yard touchdown drive when he snagged a 36-yard pass from a scrambling Bobby Wheatley giving the Lancers a first and goal on the 10. Exavier Edwards scored on the next play behind a good block by Scotty Williams, giving OLu a 10-0 lead with ten minutes left in the final quarter. The Tillers then mounted their best drive of the game, reaching the Lancer 30-yard line before a Sean McEvilly sack ended their threat. The Lancers were then able to grind out a first down and run out the clock, giving the 'Big Red' their triumph
The game was marked by an outstanding defensive effort led by a selfless front four of Kapono Asuega, Aaron Prindle, Sean McEvilly, and Mike Arakelian. Lancer linebackers Wingate Wong, Chris Mason, Jeremiah Pemasa, and Garrett Gilliland played with great fortitude. In the secondary, Terrence Brown, Gabe Lemon and Kyle Dravis made key tackles while also being unyielding in pass coverage. Each side had one turnover, and the "Fighting Lancers" were back.
Bishop Amat Recap
Orange Coast College was the venue for week 2 as OLu hosted traditional power Bishop Amat. The Lancers bolted to a substantial early lead of 24-0 behind a touchdown grab by Terrence Brown, several big catches by Shane Sullivan, a field goal by Parker Flynn, and a short TD scamper by Exavier Edwards. But then the big 'Amat comeback' began. Amat drove 75 yards for a touchdown aided by two key Lancer penalties. At the end of the half, Amat put together a great 75-yard drive to score with two seconds left to pull to within 24-14.
The second half was a nightmare for the 'Big Red', who committed six turnovers on their first seven possessions. Bishop Amat, like good teams do, capitalized on the Lancer mistakes and earned a 47-39 victory. (OLu literally turned the ball over on all five of its 3rd quarter possessions).
For the Lancers, the question would be how would they respond after playing so poorly on offense and defense, and suffering one of the most demoralizing losses in Lancer history.
BULLARD RECAP
The Lancers opened the season in the friendly confines of the Santa Ana Bowl by hosting the 7th ranked squad from Central California, Bullard High School. A partisan crowd of 5,000 cheered on the Big Red despite numerous miscues, including an unusually high 5 turnovers and several botched opportunities on offense. Still, the Lancers fought hard, playing solidly on defense and special teams.
O Lu got on the board first after a 50 yard punt return by senior Scotty Williams to the Knight 29 yard line. A ten yard run by senior fullback Kent Fleager was followed by a 19 yard TD scamper by X (junior Exavier Edwards). A strong effort by the defense forced Bullard to punt from deep in their own territory, setting up the Lancers with another short field. A clutch 3rd down grab by senior tight end Shane Sullivan and a 17 yard nifty run off an option by QB Bobby Wheatley set up Kent Fleager's 2 yard TD plunge which pushed the Lancer lead to 14-0 as the first quarter ended.
After the Garett Gilliland and Terrence Brown-led defense stopped the Knights again, the Lancers embarked on an 80 yard TD drive capped off by X's 11 yard TD dash, which gave the Big Red a commanding 21-0 lead. Near the end of the half, the Lancers turned the ball over deep in their own territory, setting up the Knights for a field goal, which accounted for the intermission score of 21-3.
In the second half, the Lancers extended their lead to 35-3 on a scintillating 23 yard TD run by senior Kyle Dravis and X's third TD of the night. The keys to both scores was the fine blocking of the offensive line, tight ends, and wide receivers. The defense continued to contain the Knights with strong pressure up front led by Aaron Prindle and Sean McEvilly among others. Bullard did pick up two late scores, one on a 90 yard fumble recovery and the other on a nice TD pass with two minutes left.
Despite the numerous mistakes, there were several highlights for the Lancers, including the football debut of senior tight end Sam Weber, who blocked well and made a "circus" catch to boot. Gabe Lemon played well on defense and special teams, while also making key blocks on offense from his receiver position. Chris Mason made several fine defensive plays while Josh Williams recorded a sack to end the game. Junior Garret Lieber had a key interception while Wingate Wong anchored the middle of the Lancer defense.
Next up for the Lancers is a dynamic squad from Bishop Amat. The game will be at 7:30pm at Orange Coast College on Friday, September 12. The blue and gold "Lancers" from Amat will be a very formidable foe, led by outstanding Head Coach Steve Hagerty.
Week 1 - Dana Hills - 8/31/07
The Big Red opened the 2007 campaign by hosting Dana Hills H.S. from the South Coast League. The Lancers played a solid all-around game, holding the Dolphin offense to under 150 total yards. Don Williams and Hayden Shaw led a strong defensive effort which produced two turnovers. Terrence Brown played well at CB and on special teams. On offense senior leader Lance Barker helped produce a solid effort by the offensive line, which allowed Ricky Pemasa, Tyson Seneca, and Exavier Edwards to rush for a combined 292 yards and 3 TD's.
week 2 - Bishop Amat - 9/7/07
Week 2 found the Lancers on the road against tradition-rich Bishop Amat H.S. Once again the defense and special teams sparked the 38-7 victory. Doug Gebhardt recovered an on-side kick while teaming with Hayden Shaw from their safety positions to thwart the Amat offense. Alex and Ricky Pemasa were big physical presences on defense as usual. USC-bound Blake Ayles was dominant on both sides of the ball, and hauled in 7 passes for 138 yards and 2 TD's.
week 3 - Tesoro - 9/14/07
The Big Red traveled south for their third game to play Tesoro H.S. A strong overall defensive effort pitched a shutout while big plays on offense ignited the 35-0 triumph over the Titans. Blake Hyepock was 12 of 22 for 340 yards and 3 TD's. Ricky Pemasa opened the game with a 93 yard TD reception while Chris Woods and IX' (Exavier Edwards) caught long TD passes. Cody Smith had 116 yards on 6 catches. Mike Arakelian, Jeremiah Pemasa, and Kyle Dravis played solidly on defense among others.
week 4 - Valencia - 9/20/07
The Valencia Vikings from the Santa Clarita Valley gave the Lancers their toughest test of the season up till now before succumbing 35-20. Sophomore Exavier Edwards and senior fullback Tyson Seneca combined for 205 yards rushing while Kyle Dravis exploded for 100 yards on only 6 carries. Kyle was also electric on kickoff returns. Blake Ayles caught 5 passes and harassed the Viking QB from his defensive end position. On defense, juniors Kapono Asuega and Jeremiah Pemasa were outstanding along with Doug Gebhardt in the secondary.
week 5 - Los Alamitos - 9/28/07
The final non-league contest found the Lancers hosting Los Al on the Fox TV IGame of the Week'. This would prove to be one of the Lancers finest performances of the season. On defense~ sophomore Garret Gilliland teamed with juniors Terrence Brown and Jeremiah Pemasa and the usual senior leaders held the potent Griffins to one TD. Meanwhile the offense, led by future Colorado State QB Blake Hyepock, helped the Big Red amass a 21-0 halftime lead. The offensive line of Lance Barker, Don Williams, Moses Peralta, Aaron Prindle, and Preston Pemasa gave Blake time to throw to Blake Ayles (2 TD's), Cody Smith, and Tyson Seneca. Ricky Pemasa played an excellent all-around game as the Lancers earned a 31-8 victory.
Week 7 - St. John Bosco - 10/12/07
The Trinity league opener took the Lancers on the road to battle St. John Bosco. OLu would rely on seniors Don Williams, Ricky Pemasa, Blake Ayles, Tyson Seneca, Hayden Shaw, and Toby Dusina to earn a hard-fought 28-17 win. Sophomore QB Bobby Wheatley filled in admirably for ailing Blake Hyepock. Tyson punched in 2 TD's and got the tough yards as the Lancers held off a very good and well-prepared Braves' squad.
Week 8 - Servite - 10/19/07
Next the Lancers visited Servite at Cal State Fullerton. The Friars played an outstanding game, led by USC-bound D.J. Shoemate, and deserved their 28-13 victory. On the bright side, Blake Hyepock played well coming off a bout with pneumonia, completing 22 of 28 for 249 yards. Kapono Asuega played hard on defense, and Exavier Edwards shined on special teams, but the night belonged to Servite.
Week 9 - Santa Margarita - 10/26/07
The game scheduled for this week with Santa Margarita was cancelled due to the terrible wild fires that were raging in Southern California.
Week 10 - Mater Dei -11/2/07
After the cancellation of the previous week's game, the Lancers shifted their attention to their chief league rival, Mater Dei. The Monarchs entered the game undefeated and ranked among the top 3 teams in the country. James Rammelsberg opened the game with an onside kick, which he recovered himself, setting a positive tone early for the Lancers. The Lancers marched 45 yards for a TD to take the early lead. Future IGatorade Player of the Year', Matt Barkley, led MD down the field on the ensuing drive before Doug Gebhardt and Hayden Shaw forced a turnover with a big hit. Blake Ayles played well on both sides of the ball, including two big TD catches. Ricky Pemasa had special runs on offense and made big plays on defense as did brother Alex who recorded an interception. Kyle Dravis' outstanding interception deep in Lancer territory thwarted another Monarch drive, while he also contributed big plays on offense. The Big Red was able to win the time of possession battle while also not turning the ball over in their 31-12 victory.
Week 11 - JSerra - 11/9/07
The final week of league play found the Lancers hosting JSerra. OLu had big personnel advantages in the game and moved on to the playoffs with a convincing win.
CIF Round 1 - Mission Viejo - 11/16/07
The opening round of the CIF play-ofIs presented a marquis matchup with perennial power Mission Viejo which was televised by Fox. The Lancer defense forced a punt on the Diablos' opening drive, and then the Lancers drove 60 yards to take an early 7-0 led. Ricky Pemasa then forced a fumble that Blake Ayles recovered, leading to another TD drive. The Diablos responded with an excellent 80 yard drive to cut the Lancer led to 14-7. Mter blowing a scoring opportunity deep in MV territory, Terrence Brown made a superb interception to give the Lancers the ball back at midfield. Mter the teams traded turnovers, the Lancers scored near the end of the half to push their lead to 21-7. The Lancers scored again at the beginning of the fourth quarter to account for the final score of 28-7. Ricky Pemasa played a great allaround game as did Alex, Jeremiah, Kapono and Terrence Brown on defense. Offensively, Moses Peralta and Lance Barker combined with Tyson Seneca to lead the way.
CIF Round 2 - Edison - 11/23/07
The quarterfinals pitted the Big Red against the team they had faced in the 2006 finals, Edison. Exavier Edwards opened the game with a bang returning the kickoff for a TD. The Chargers responded with a long screen pass for a TD, knotting the score at 7. After forcing a fumble, Edison took a 13-7 lead on a Nick Crissman TD pass. Blake Hyepock gave the Big Red the lead back on a 10 yard option scamper. From there the battle waged back and forth until the fourth quarter when the Lancers were finally able to put the well-coached Chargers away, 28-16, on a Tyson Seneca TD plunge. The win lifted the Lancers into a semifinal rematch versus Long Beach Poly.
CIF Semifinals - Long Beach Poly - 11/30/07
On a drizzly night at the Home Depot Center, the Jackrabbits and the Lancers faced off in a gut-wrenching, heart-pounding struggle. Poly took the lead in the first quarter on a safety, and then held off the Lancers with a second quarter goal line stand to take a 2-0 advantage into intermission. The second half was a very physical see-saw battle with control of the game tilting slightly in favor of the Lancers as the game wore on into the fourth quarter. With the outcome on the line the Lancers drove 60 yards to the Poly one-yard line before the Jackrabbits recovered a Lancer fumble to preserve their 2-0 victory. The effort of every Lancer throughout the game was tremendous, and even though it was a searing loss, their faith and character never shined so bright as it did that night. The senior class had stood tall in leadership all year long as they consistently helped their younger teammates rise to meet each challenge they encountered in 2007.